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2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. CAMERON.. A EXPANSION DRILL FOR WELL-SINKING. No'. 449,613.

Patented' Mar. 31,1891.

(N-O Model.)

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immuun (No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

A. CAMERON.

BXPANSIUN DRILL FOR WELL SINKING. A

No. 449,613. Patented 1V1a1-.|31, 1891.

ANrTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR CAMERON,'OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- p MENTS, TO ANNA B. AUSTIN, OF SAME PLACE.

EXPANSION-DRILL FOR WELL-SINKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,613, dated March 31, 1891.

Application filed June 21,1890. Serial No. 356,179. (No model.)

a specification.

My invention relates to expansion drills or reamers for Artesian and oil wells adapted for enlarging the diameterof the bore at any desired point, and constructed so that the bits or cutters can contract to an extent to admit of their reception within the well-tube, and ,thereby not only permit them to be lowered to the desiredv point, but also to be drawn upwardly through thc well-tube whenV so desired.

The object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide simple, reliable, efficient, and otherwise improved means for automatically locking the bits or cutters in an expanded condition, and for automatically unlocking them, so as to allow them to contract within the well-tube when the drill is drawn upwardly through the latter, as hereinafter more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents in elevation an expansioncliill embodyingmyinventiomthe bits orcuttersbeing shown in working position and arranged to operate as a reamer. Fig. 2 represents a vertical central section through Fig. `1 on line 2 2, with the latching devices and movable stop or abutment in elevation. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but shows the latching devices closed within the stock and received within the well-tube. In this view the latches by reason of their closed condition are freed from their locking engagement with the movable stop. Fig. Ltis a vertical central section through the drill-stock and a portion of the well-tube on a plane at right angles to the plane of the preceding figure, and shows the drill received 'withint the well-tube to an extent to cause the bits or cutters to fold or close. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. l, but represents the stationary bit at the lower end of the stock or holder omitted and the expansion bits or cutters illustrated in precedingiigures arranged to take the place of the same, it being understood that in other respects said expansion bits or cutters and adjuncts are substantially the same as in the preceding figures. Fig. 6 representsthe drill of Fig. 5, viewed from a different side. Fig. 7 is a section on line 7 7 in Fig. G. Fig. S is a detail showing the pivoted bits or cutters.

The stock A is in the iirst three gures shown provided with a bit or cutter a at its lower end, which said bit can be formed integral with the stoel; or made separate therefrom and secured thereto inau y suitable way. IVhere the stock is thus provided with a bit at its lower end, it is provided at a point above the same with a recess a,'adapted to receive the expansion bits or cutters B, which are pivotally held between the opposing side walls of the recess by a pivot C, common to both and secured in the stock. Each cutter Bis fulcrumed upon said pivot at a point suiiiciently below its upper end portion to permit the latter to serve as the short arm of a lever whereof the long arm is formed bythe length of cutter below the pivot. The upper ends of the cutters are oppositely beveled with reference to one another, so as to form in effect .a pair of jaws having inclined faces I) b, which diverge upwardly from the fulcrum pin or pivot, and which open when the lower cutting end portions of thev cutters are expanded or swung apart, and contract or move toward one another when said lower cutting end portions of the cutters are contracted or closed within the stock.

As a vmeans for expanding or forcing said jaws apart, so as to open or swing apart the cutters, I provide a sliding spring-controlled wedge-shaped movable abutment or stop D, which is fitted to work within a mortise or recess a2 in the stock and arranged to wedge between the jaws b. The spring E, to which the movable stop D is subject, is conned within the stock and arranged between the upper end of the stop and an abutment a3 in the stock. This spring serves to normally expand or spread apart the cutters, and to such end it acts to force the sliding wedgeshaped stop downwardly and between the jaws, so as to wedge them apart and thereby expand the cutters, as in Fig. l. As a means for holding down said stop, so as to lock the IOC cutters in an expanded condition, I provide a latching or locking device comprising a couple of oppositely arranged latches F, which are pivoted within oppositely -arranged recesses a4 in the stock and subject to springs G, which act to normally force the lower ends of the latches inwardly and thereby permit them to engage the upper end of the stop when the latter is in position for holding the jaws apart, as shown. in Fig. Then the stop is in position to hold the jaws, and consequez'ltlythe cutters, apart to the eX- tent required for enlarging the well-bore, the latches will therefore so engage the stop as to lock the same down and thereby lock the cutters. Under such conditions the latches will diverge upwardly from the stock, so as to cause their upperinclinedorbeveled end portionsf to stand out from the same to such ex tent that when the stoel; is drawn up into a well-tube, as at G, the engagement of the lower end of the tube with the said beveled upper edge portions f of the latches will torce said upper ends of the latches inwardly or toward the axis of the stock, thereby moving their lower ends outwardly and out of engagcment with the stop, as in Fig. Ihen the latches are thus freed from the stop, the latter can be forced up by a closing action on the part of the jaws, which said action will take place when the stock is raised to an extent to draw the cutters within the well-tube, which latter will necessarily close the cutters, as in Fig. 1L, before they can enter its bore.

lily reason of the foregoing construction the expansion-drill can be let down within a welltube with its cutters in a closed orcontracted condition. As soon, however, as the cutters commence to emerge from the lower end of the well-tube they will com menee to expand by reason of the action ol` the spring-stop, which tends to force apart the upper ends or jaws at the upper ends of the cutters. Preparatory to this expanding action of the eutlers the stop will be between the lower ends of the latches or locking-levers, which latter will at such time lie substantially parallel with the axis of the stock. lVhen, however, the spring-stop has forced the jaws apart to the required extent,it willhave passed below its former position between the lower ends of the spring-latches or loelringlevers,which will then be instantly operated by their respective springs II in a way to move their upper ends outwardly and hence move their lower ends inwardly to an extent to engage the upper end of the stop and lock down the same.

lYhile I have thus far described the cutters arranged above the bit c, so as to act as an expansion-roamer,itwillbe obvious that they can be arranged to take the place of the bit a, and that, broadly considered, they may in both of such eases be said to constitute an expansion-drill.

In Figs. 5 and ti I have shown, therefore, the cutters arranged at the lower end of the stock, and also illustrated, as a means for locking them, the latehing or locking levers F, substantially as shown in preceding figures, it being understood that I provide, in connection with said cutters and latches, a movable stop or abutment and spring, as in preceding figures.

Iith regard to the jaws and a movable stop for expanding and permitting the contraction of the same, it will be obvious that other forms of locking devices could be employed, and that the particular locking device herein shown constitutes a further feature of improvement. The movable stop thus ar ranged provides a `solid abutment, which will be clamped between the jaws when the eutters are spread apart, and hence the jaws will be firmly held during such operation as may be required of them. Owing to the leverage attained by arranging the cutters as the long arms of levers whereof the jaws form the short arms, the cutters can be readily closed when they are drawn up into the well-tube, since they will, when forced together by the well-tube, readily force up the movable stop.

In order to provide each cutter with an incline or jaw Z2, I prefer to form in the upper end of what lnay be termed the shank portion of each cutter a V-shaped notch or recess, so that while one side of each notch shall form a jaw Z) the other side shall form a stop b. lVhen, therefore, the cutters are open or spread apart, and the stop D is in its lowest position, it will lie within the said V-shaped notches, and hence the contact of the sides l1 of said notches with the stop I) will determine the extent to which the cutters can be swung' out, and since the wedge -shaped stop fits within the V-shaped notches the cutter will be held perfectly steady.

Vhat I claim as my invention is l. The combination, substantially as hercinbefore set forth, of the cutters, both pivoted to a stock and having their upper ends adapted to provide a pair of jaws above the point whcreat the cutters are pivoted, a movable stop adapted to wedge between and open the jaws, so as to expand the cutters, and an automatic locking device for engaging and loclcing the stop when. the latter is in position to hold the jaws open.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbeiore set forth, of thc cutters pivoted to a stock and having their upper ends adapted to provide a pair of jaws above the point where` at the cutters are pivoted, a movable springcontrolled stop adapted for wcdging between and opening the jaws, so as to expand the cutters, and an automatic locking device forauwhen the latter is in position for holding the jaws open.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbeforc set forth, of the cutters pivoted to a stock and provided with jaws, a movable stop adapted to wedge between and open the jaws, and a pair of locking-levers pivoted to the stoel; and subject to spring-power applied to IIC Vtomatieally engaging and locking the stop normally throw ont their upper ends and oontrnct their lower ends within the stock to an extent to engage and lool; down tho stop when the latter is in position for holding` open the jaws and cutters.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the Cutters pivoted to the stock and provided with jaws, L springstop adapted to wedge between and open the jaws, so as to expand the ont-ters', and a pair ro of spring-latches or locking-levers, which normally look down the stop when the latter is in position to hold the jaws and ont-ters open, as aforesaid.

ARTHUR CAMERON. Witnesses:

THos. G. CHAPMAN,

HARRY C. KENNEDY. 

